The longstanding tradition behind Lakota’s annual food drive, hosted by the Lakota Board of Education, helped the district bring home a win in the inaugural match-up against neighboring school districts Mason and Middletown. But the real winners were all three communities that collectively brought in more than 53,000 items for their respective relief organizations.

“We scheduled this year’s drive to lead right up to ‘National Make a Difference Day’ because that’s really what it’s all about,” said Lakota Superintendent Matthew Miller, who secondarily enjoyed the wager he’d made with both Middletown’s and Mason’s superintendents to wear the spirit wear of the winning district. “The wager was just a fun way of motivating our students and staff to get behind the cause. I’m blown away at the generosity of all three communities.”

Lakota accounted for about 41,000 of that grand total, enough to fill about four school buses and amounting to nearly 35,000 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable items. That stands in comparison to last year’s grand total of 27,000 pounds, providing Reach Out Lakota with enough items to stock its shelves through the winter months.

“Between this drive and other smaller ones conducted by individual buildings throughout the year, Lakota staff and families contribute 60 percent of what we give out to families each year,” said Reach Out Lakota CEO Peyton Gravely. “The results of this drive never cease to amaze me and we are beyond grateful for their partnership.”

Last year, the district put a new spin on the district-wide food drive, which had traditionally pitted East feeder schools up against West feeder schools in a friendly competition to collect the most canned goods. In the spirit of the district’s new mantra, “WE are Lakota,” the drive was presented more as a team effort.

To further reiterate this approach, the school board went as far as to kick it off at the East versus West football game, which had traditionally marked the conclusion of the drive. Two school buses also hopped around town over the course of the three-week event, making a stop at each school to literally “stuff the bus” with donations.

“This has always been a great event for bringing together all 23 of our schools for a common cause,” said Board President Julie Shaffer. “This year was no exception in demonstrating the incredible impact we can make as one big community that cares about their neighbors in need.”

Pictured above: The Lakota community collectively stuffed four school buses with about 41,000 items for Reach Out Lakota's shelves. A crosstown wager between Lakota Superintendent Matthew Miller, Mason Superintendent Jonathan Cooper and Middletown Superintendent Marlon Styles left all three sporting Lakota spirit wear after the district posted the highest per student donation amount.